Roland KR-15, KR-17 Changing the Tuning Tuning, Various Settings, 153, Choosing the Tuning

Chapter 9 Various Settings

■Changing the Tuning (Tuning)

❍Choosing the Tuning

You can play classical styles such as Baroque using historic temperaments (tuning methods).

Most modern songs are composed for and played in equal temperament, the most common tuning in use today. But at one time, there were a wide variety of other tuning systems in existence. By playing in the temperament that was in use when a composition was created, you can experience the sonorities of chords originally intended for that song.

At Step 3 in “Procedure” (p. 152), touch <Tuning>.

You can choose from among the eight tunings described below.

Tuning	Characteristics
system
	This temperament is based on the
	theories of the Greek philosopher
Pythagorean	Pythagoras, and has pure fourths and
	fifths. Chords containing a third will
	sound impure, but melodies will sound
	good.
Meantone	This temperament is a partial
	compromise of just intonation in order
	to allow modulation.
	This temperament is a combination of
Werkmeister	meantone and Pythagorean
	temperaments. It allows you to play in
	all keys. (First method, number three.)

Touch any one of the icons to choose the tuning system.

When playing in a temperament other than equal

temperament, you must specify the tonic (the note

corresponding to C for a major key, or to A for a minor key)

of the key in which you will play.

Touch <Key> to select the tonic.

If you have selected equal temperament, it is not necessary to

select the tonic.

Tuning	Characteristics
system
	This temperament divides the octave
Equal	into 12 equal parts. All intervals will be
	slightly out of tune by the same amount.
	This setting is in effect when you turn on
	the power.
	This temperament makes the 5th and
Just (Maj)	3rd intervals pure. It is unsuited to
	playing melodies and cannot be
	transposed, but is capable of beautiful
	sonorities.
Just (min)	Just intonation differs between major
	and minor keys. The same results as
	major can be obtained in a minor key.
Arabic	This tuning is suitable for the music of
	Arabia.
	This temperament is a modification of
Kirnberger	meantone temperament and just
	intonation, allowing more freedom of
	modulation. Performances are possible
	in all keys (III).

❍Setting the Tuning Curve (Stretch Tuning)

Pianos are generally tuned so that the low range is flatter and the high range is sharper than equal tempered pitches. This method of tuning is unique to the piano, and is known as “stretched tuning.”

A graph that shows the changes in pitch of actual tuning compared with the changes in equal temperament pitch is called a tuning curve. Changing the tuning curve produces subtle variations in the reverberations of the chords you play.

Touch the Stretch Tuning <ON> or <OFF> icon to select the tuning curve.

When set to “ON,” the tuning curve features extended low and high ranges (Stretch Tuning). It is suitable for piano solos. This setting is selected when the power is turned on.

When set to “OFF,” the standard tuning curve is used. It is suitable when playing in an ensemble with other instruments.

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